I instantly bought a ticket on Megabus, and after enduring some traffic on the NJ Turnpike, headed out to Brooklyn’s Public Assembly. On the way since Bomb The Music Industry (like Wu-Tang) is for the children and the show was a toy drive, we made a pit stop to pick up a Spongebob Squarepants musical instrument set (and I’m not going to lie, it was tempting to keep). The show was running a bit late, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I was waiting in line for a show.

Franz Nicolay:

I haven’t seen Franz since 2010 at the Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, and I was excited to see him again. Franz joked and claimed that no one was there to see him, but the crowd was incredibly lively clapping along to all of his songs. It wasn’t just his usual solo act though, this time around he brought along someone else who helped switch off instruments with him (we heard the accordion, banjo, and guitar) and provided female vocals on most of the songs.

A decent amount of the songs were off his latest album Do The Struggle which I have yet had a chance to check out, but he was able to sneak in a few older ones, including my favorites Jeff Penalty and The Ballad Of Hollis Wadsworth Mason, Jr (my request for Dead Sailors was denied… awww…)

Hop Along:

I never heard of Hop Along before, but they came highly recommended from some friends and apparently they are from my city of Philly. The band played punk influenced indie rock, with female vox. Hop Along played some catchy tunes, with the singer’s voice fluctuating from a Laura Stevenson crisp to a Joan Jett like raspy growl. It was pretty awesome actually.

I couldn’t tell you what songs the band played, but it was an enjoyable set that will probably have me checking out some of their recorded work.

Bomb The Music Industry:

It’s been a whole two weeks since I’ve seen BTMI play what I thought would be the last time I’d get to see them (I’m still skeptical about this breakup) and I gotta say, I think this hometown Brooklyn show blew Philly’s out of the water.

The crowd was dancing harder, the band playing faster and heavier, and all around a rowdier time. Microphones and equipment were broken, which reminded me a bit of when I used to see Arrogant Sons of Bitches waaaay back in the day (yup, officially an old person now).

The band played songs spanning from all their albums, and we were treated with multiple renditions of Amazing Grace (in ode to somebody in the crowd who lost their glasses). Stage dives and pits abound, Jeff and company jumped into the crowd themselves a few times. Easily one of the best Bomb shows I’ve ever been to, and I’ve seen them a bunch. Oh and they closed with Blow Your Brains Out, which I lost my shit to…

Setlist (From what I remember and not in order…)

Pizza Claus Is Coming To Town
Campaign For a Better Next Weekend
The First Time I Met Sanawon
Fresh Attitude, Young Body
Vocal Coach
Everybody That You Love
25!
Bike Test 1 2 3
Stand There Until You’re Sober
Big Plans Of Sleeping In
Hurricane Waves
Side Projects Are Never Successful
I Don’t Love You Anymore